Auto racing is definitely a family sport and in the past few years a team with exceptionally strong family ties has emerged in western PA, and in 2007 this team, the Shingledecker Race Team 37MD, piloted by Jeremiah Shingledecker of Polk, PA, is ready to make a serious challenge for the BRP/Hoosier Tires presents Tour ’07 Modified Series championship

The â€œFamily Influenceâ€ on the Shingledecker Race Team begins with Jeremiahâ€™s number, 37MD. â€œThe number, 37MD is in memory of my late brother, Michael,â€ said Jeremiah. â€œIt comes from Michaelâ€™s Demo Derby car that he ran the summer before he passed away. He chose 37 because it was my momâ€™s age at the time.

Growing up my brothers and I all wanted to be race car drivers. Unfortunately Michael was only 18 when he passed away so he never really got the chance to drive. When my Dad and I purchased out first Modified a few years later it only seemed natural to use Michaelâ€™s number and add the â€œMDâ€ which stands for â€˜Michaelâ€™s Dream.â€™ Jeremiahâ€™s younger brother, Travis, has also continued the tradition and pays tribute to both of his brothers with his number â€œ73MD.â€

The Shingledecker Race Team also has plenty of talented personnel working behind the scenes. Jeremiahâ€™s father, Mike, has built the teamâ€™s engines throughout their entire 12 years of competition. â€œMy dad has prided himself on learning more each year to keep our team competitive and I am proud to race such great motors. Just because the motors come from our shop doesnâ€™t mean they are inferior to the â€˜big nameâ€™ engines.â€ In the future Jeremiahâ€™s father looks forward to expanding his engine building hobby into a full time business with Jeremiah as the MD Racing Engines house car.

Jeremiahâ€™s most memorable moment in his racing career could more accurately be described as a â€œmost memorable week.â€ Jeremiah stated that, â€œIn mid June of 2005 I had just gotten my good motor back and on June 19, 2005 my wife, Lex, won her first Ladiesâ€™ Mod Tour race at the Tri-City Speedway. In addition my brother, Travis, won his first ever small block feature event the following Saturday. My most memorable moment occurred the next night (June 26, 2005) when I picked up my first big block feature win. The pressure was really on me and it was such a great night!â€

The Shingledecker Race Team would also like to welcome a new sponsor, The Emlenton Water Bottling Company, for 2007. The team is also proud to have the following firms as returning sponsors for the upcoming season: CarMate, Quaker Steak and Lube, and Lou Heath and Son Excavating and Trucking.

In 2007 Jeremiah will compete weekly at the Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, PA as well as on the BRP Modified Tour. In addition the Shingledecker Race Team will compete at the Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, PA as time permits.

Jeremiah Shingledecker may not be a household name just yet but be sure to keep your eye on the bright red 37MD as it rockets to the front of the field when the BRP Modified Tour kicks off its 2007 season in a few weeks at the Tri-City Speedway.